Before Lilah could respond, a stern voice interjected, "I invited her.

Is there an issue?"

ALL eyes turned to the source: Gerard, who was now standing beside Lilah. The trio's coordinated outfits spoke volumes. They were a unit.

Maggie felt her world tilt. "Mr. Harris, I... I didn't realize..."

The teacher, sensing the escalating tension, stepped in. "Miss Lewis, Ms. Phillips is accompanying Jerrold today."

Whispers erupted among the parents.

“Why is Maggie interfering? Can't she see they're a family?"

"Ms. Phillips is such a beauty. Mr. Harris has good taste."

"It's rare to see Mr. Harris at these events!"

Lilah became the center of admiration, a sharp contrast to Maggie's now tarnished reputation.

The murmurs reached Maggie, making her wish for an escape.

Recognizing the discomfort, the teacher discreetly redirected Maggie to another group.

“My apologies for my tardiness," Gerard offered, his expression apologetic as he regarded Lilah.

"It's alright. I was just worried you couldn't join us," Lilah replied, her smile bittersweet, the matching outfits a reminder of their complicated relationship.

Maggie, despite being relocated, couldn't tear her gaze away from the trio. She clenched her fist in frustration, inadvertently bending the metal skewer she held.

Maggie had received a tip-off from Adaline that Lilah and Gerard were seeing each other. At first, Maggie found it hard to accept. But today, she witnessed the undeniable chemistry between them.

With a bitter undertone, Maggie viewed Lilah as nothing more than an opportunist.

Soon, the grilling began in earnest.

Most of the attendees were prominent figures from high society, unaccustomed to manual cooking. The result? A slew of burnt and undercooked dishes.

Some children, not used to seeing their parents in this role, felt bewildered. A particularly young one inquired, "Mom, isn't our maid supposed to be here to cook?"

Caught off guard, the mother responded, "Darling, today we're trying something different. We'll have a proper meal when we return home."

Maggie's attempt at grilling was particularly notable, and not in a good way. At home, she never ventured into the kitchen. Thus, her cooking efforts were predictably poor: dishes were either scorched or raw. Holly, after sampling a piece, promptly spat it out. Maggie reacted with disapproval. "How could you be so wasteful?"

Upon tasting it herself, Maggie opted for silence.

The teacher, ever the diligent supervisor, flitted around, assisting wherever needed to ensure everyone had something edible.